Sleep and health are closely intertwined. Sleep is needed to rejuvenate the body, and getting the right amount of quality sleep affects a person’s health in many ways. Poor sleep has been linked to a myriad of health problems including obesity, diabetes, depression, high-blood pressure, and more.

As most of us know, getting an adequate amount of sleep can be very difficult in this day and age. Whether it is because of a busy schedule or stress or the multitude of devices that keep us connected at every moment, the results of poor sleep are the same: lethargy, thinking slower, and a plethora of potential health issues.

There are a lot of things that determine the amount and the quality of sleep a person gets. For one, exercise has been shown to improve the quality of sleep. But, what many people don’t know is that, based on recommendations from health experts, exercise should be done at least three hours before bedtime. More specifically, experts recommend exercising in the late afternoon to achieve the best results as far as sleep. Other suggestions for better sleep include setting and maintaining a regular sleep schedule, not watching TV or reading or eating in bed, and following the same bedtime rituals every night.

One of the most important factors related to sleep is diet. Everyone knows that caffeine just before bed is a bad idea. But, people may not be aware that caffeine’s effects can cause sleep issues as many as 10 to 12 hours later, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Alcohol is another thing to be avoided, as it decreases the quality of sleep.

Richard Crenian can share insight when it comes to balancing stress and sleep. Crenian is the founder and President of ReDev Properties Ltd., and his various work obligations leave him usually very busy. Since founding ReDev Properties in 2001, Crenian has grown his commercial real estate management company to include over 25 commercial properties on behalf of investors around the world. Richard Crenian also happens to be active with several charitable causes and founded the Young Entrepreneurs Organization in Saskatchewan, Canada.

To make the most of the time he does have for sleep, Crenian advocates a healthy diet that is low in sugar. “When under immense amounts of stress, I have noticed in the past that my diet greatly affects my energy level and how I feel when I wake up in the morning. Since cutting back on sugars and eating healthy overall, with lots of fruits, vegetables and lean meats, I feel like I’ve gained an extra hour of sleep every night.”

Crenian’s advice is in line with what experts recommend as the first step toward good sleep, which is eating balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day and avoiding drinks like soda or junk foods that are high in sugar. As Richard Crenian notes, diet really does have an important role in sleep, and, in turn, sleep has an important effect on overall health. For someone to ensure their health is as good as it can be, they should follow Crenian’s example and first make the small step of cutting back on sugars, then improving overall diet. Doing these two things can make a significant impact.